Jewelry display stand

ABSTRACT

A ring display stand having a base portion, a ring receiving surface, a protuberance and a back displays a ring and personalized information relating to the ring and/or the owner of the ring. The ring receiving surface has an upper shoulder portion and a lower shoulder portion. The upper shoulder portion is relatively higher than the lower shoulder portion with respect to the base portion. The protuberance extends out of the ring receiving surface away from the base portion. The back displays textual and/or image information relating to, for example, a school, a sports team, company, unit or group, a wedding, an event and/or a holiday. Information displayed on the back can be displayed in relief.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/487,457, entitled “Jewelry Display Stand,” invented by Melissa C. Polson and filed Jul. 14, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is also related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/487,421, entitled “Jewelry Display Stand,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 107.0004), entitled “Jewelry Display Stand,” both invented by Melissa C. Polson, filed concurrently herewith, and both which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a jewelry display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ring display stand.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are numerous known devices for displaying a piece of jewelry, such as a ring. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,526 to Rudnick et al. discloses a display device having a rigid unitary body for rings and similar items of jewelry. The display device includes a wedge-shaped notch that is formed in the upper surface of the unitary body. The notch is defined by an opposing pair of upwardly divergent surfaces between which rings having varying bands of thickness may be inserted and held for display purposes.

Another example of a jewelry display device is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,072 to Kaiser. According to Kaiser, a jewelry box having a removable display platform includes a bottom member, a separate cover and a movable display platform. A holder portion includes an upwardly-facing concavity having a shape that can range from a circular form to a tear-shaped form. A horizontal tab member extends from the rear edge of the concavity. A ring is frictionally retained between the tab member and the upper surface of the concavity.

Other examples include a motorized jewelry display that uses piezoelectricity for imparting rotational motion to a jewelry item or other items is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,242 B1 to Marshall, and a lighted jewelry display box is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,858 B1 to Gagliardi.

Even though there are numerous known jewelry display devices, what is still needed is a jewelry display device that can be personalized for a jewelry owner. In particular, what is needed is a ring display stand that can be personalized for a ring owner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ring display stand that can be personalized for a ring owner.

The advantages of the present invention are provided a ring display stand that includes a base portion and a protuberance topped by a ring receiving surface. The ring receiving surface has an upper shoulder portion and a lower shoulder portion. According to the invention, the upper shoulder portion is relatively higher than the lower shoulder portion with respect to the base portion. The protuberance extends out of the ring receiving surface away from the base portion. The ring display stand can include a back that displays textual and/or image information relating to, for example, a school, a sports team, company, unit or group, a wedding, an event, and/or a holiday. Information displayed on the back can be displayed in relief In one alternative embodiment, the base portion is rotatably attached to the back. In another alternative embodiment, the ring receiving surface is rotatably attached to the base portion.

A second embodiment of the present invention provides a tiara display stand having a base, a receiving surface and a stop member. The receiving surface is adapted for receiving an ornamental portion of a tiara. The receiving surface has a front portion and a back portion and is continuous and smooth. Alternatively, the receiving surface can have a slip-resistant-type surface or a cloth-covered surface. The receiving surface is located above the base by a distance that is greater than a length of teeth of a comb portion of the tiara. The stop member is located at the back portion of the receiving surface. The stop member can display textual and/or image information that relates to, for example, a wedding, a dance or an event. The textual and/or the image information can be displayed in relief

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first exemplary embodiment a jewelry display stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the jewelry display stand shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the first exemplary embodiment of the jewelry display stand shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of the jewelry display stand shown in FIG. 1 displaying an exemplary ring;

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment of a jewelry display stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the second exemplary embodiment of a jewelry display stand according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the second exemplary embodiment of a jewelry stand according to the present invention displaying an exemplary tiara.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a jewelry display stand 100 according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show a side view and a top view of jewelry display stand 100. FIG. 4 shows a front view of jewelry display 100 displaying a ring 111. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, jewelry display stand 100 is configured as a ring display stand and includes a ring receiving platform 101 and a back 102. Ring receiving platform 101 includes a protuberance 103, a ring receiving surface 104 and a base portion 105. Protuberance 103 is generally cylindrically shaped, has a rounded tip 106, and extends out of ring receiving surface 104 substantially along a vertical axis (not shown). Protuberance 103 has a diameter that is generally smaller than the opening of a ring. While protuberance 103 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 as being generally cylindrically shaped, protuberance 103 can alternatively have a cross section of any shape as long as the cross section of protuberance 103 is generally smaller than the opening of a ring. Moreover, while tip 106 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 as rounded, tip 106 can be any desired shape.

Ring receiving surface 104 includes an upper shoulder portion 107 and a lower shoulder portion 108. Upper shoulder portion 107 is relatively higher than lower shoulder portion 108 so that when a ring 111 is placed on jewelry display stand 100, such as shown in FIG. 4, the ring setting portion 112 of the ring 111 is oriented upwardly for displaying setting portion 112 of ring 111. While ring receiving surface 104 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 as being generally continuous and smooth surface, ring receiving surface 104 can alternatively be discontinuous, for example, with upper shoulder portion 107 being separated from lower shoulder portion by at least one step-like structure.

Base portion 105 of ring receiving platform 101 is s shown in FIGS. 1-4 as being generally cylindrically shaped, base portion 105 can alternatively have a cross section of any shape. Moreover, while base portion 105 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 as being relatively the same size as protuberance 103 together with ring receiving surface 104, the size of base portion 105 is not critical. Further, even though FIGS. 1-4 show base portion 105 and ring receiving surface 104 as having upper shoulder portion 107 and lower shoulder portion 108 oriented so that a ring will be viewed from the side of the ring, base portion 105 can be rotatably attached to back 102 so that base portion 105 and ring receiving surface 104 can be oriented so that a ring would be viewed from the front of the ring. As yet another alternative, ring receiving surface 104 can be rotatably attached to base portion 105 so that ring receiving surface 104 can be oriented so that a ring would be viewed from the front of the ring.

Back 102 includes an image surface portion 109, which can include the entire surface of back 102, including the backside of back 102 (not shown). Text and/or images can appear on image surface portion 109 to personalize jewelry display stand 100 for the owner of a ring that is displayed on the ring display stand. For example, when the ring is a school class ring, back 102 can have text and/or images identifying the school, the class year, a mascot, and/or any other information relating to the school and/or ring owner. Additionally or in the alternative, text and/or images appearing on back 102 can be displayed in relief Further still, while back 102 is shown as being generally rectangular with a curved top surface 110, back 102 can take any shape, such as completely rectangular or square, oval or polygonal, or the silhouette of any shape. Accordingly, back 102 can be completely or partially opaque, translucent and/or transparent. Other examples of information that can be displayed on back 102 include, but are not limited to, sports team information, company, unit or group information, scouting information, wedding information, special occasion information and holiday information, such as religious, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Halloween, etc.

As an alternative embodiment, jewelry display stand 100 can omit back 102 so that jewelry display stand 100 includes only ring receiving platform 101, in which case text and/or images can appear on base portion 105 for personalizing jewelry display stand 100 for the owner of a ring that is displayed on jewelry display stand 100.

Jewelry display stand 100 can be made from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, ceramic, plastic, metal and/or wood.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a second exemplary embodiment 500 of a jewelry display stand according to the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a side view of jewelry display stand 500 and FIG. 7 shows a side view of jewelry stand 500 displaying an exemplary tiara or crown jewelry piece 700. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, jewelry display stand 500 is configured as a tiara display stand and includes a base portion 501, a tiara receiving platform 502, front stop members 503 and back stop member 504. Base portion 501 rests on a horizontal surface (for example, surface 704 in FIG. 7) and supports tiara receiving platform 502 above the horizontal surface. Tiara receiving platform 502 is generally located above the bottom of base portion 501 by a distance that greater than length of the teeth of a comb portion of a tiara, as described below in connection with FIG. 7. Tiara receiving platform also generally slopes downward from a front portion 505 to a rear portion 506 of receiving platform 502 so that front portion 505 is generally higher with respect to base portion 501 than rear portion 506. Tiara receiving surface 502 can be continuous and smooth, or alternatively have a textured finish, such as a slip-resistant-type surface or a cloth-covered surface.

Front stop members 503 are at the front of jewelry display stand 500 so that a tiara that is being displayed on jewelry display stand 500 is not easily bumped off the front of the stand. Back stop member 504 is at the rear of jewelry display stand 500 so that a tiara that is being displayed on jewelry display stand 500 does not slide off the back, as described below in connection with FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of jewelry stand 500 displaying an exemplary tiara 700. Tiara 700 includes a decorative portion 701 and a comb portion 702. Tiara 700 is displayed on jewelry stand 500 so that decorative portion 701 of tiara 700 is placed on tiara receiving platform 502. Tiara 700 extends past back stop member 504 so that comb portion 702 of tiara 700 is behind jewelry stand 500. Teeth 703 of comb portion 702 support tiara 700 on surface 704 as tiara 700 extends behind jewelry stand 500. Tiara receiving platform 502 is generally located above the bottom of base portion 501 by a distance that is greater than length of teeth 703 of comb portion 702 of tiara 700 so that decorative portion 701 has a generally upwardly orientation.

The distance that tiara receiving platform 502 is located above the bottom of base portion 501 can vary depending upon the particular tiara for which jewelry display stand 500 is intended. For example, if jewelry display stand 500 is intended for a tiara having a comb portion with relatively short teeth, tiara receiving platform 502 is located above the bottom of base portion 501 a corresponding distance so that the decorative portion of the tiara will be oriented generally upward when the tiara is placed on jewelry display stand 500. In contrast, if jewelry display stand 500 is intended for a tiara having a comb portion with relatively long teeth, tiara receiving platform 502 is located above the bottom of base portion 501 a corresponding distance so that the decorative portion of the tiara will be similarly oriented generally upward when the tiara is placed on jewelry display stand 500.

Jewelry display stand 500 is configured as a stylized chair, but it should be understood that the stylization of jewelry display stand 500 can take any of a number of forms, such as a throne, a chair having a slatted back (i.e., back stop member 504), a figurine, or a caricature. As an alternative embodiment, back stop member 504 can be solid so that text and/or images can appear on the surface of back stop member 504 to personalize jewelry display stand 500 in much the same manner as described above in connection with jewelry display stand 100 (FIGS. 1-4). As another alternative embodiment, a single front stop member can extend continuously across front portion 505 of tiara receiving platform 502. As yet another alternative embodiment, a plurality of front stop members can be located at front portion 505 of tiara receiving platform 502. As still another alternative embodiment, jewelry display stand 500 can have no front stop members, thereby relying on the orientation of tiara receiving platform for preventing a tiara from sliding off of the front of jewelry display stand 500.

Jewelry display stand 500 can be made from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, ceramic, plastic, metal and/or wood.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced that are within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims. 

1. A ring display stand, comprising: a base portion; a ring receiving surface having an upper shoulder portion and a lower shoulder portion, the upper shoulder portion being relatively higher than the lower shoulder portion with respect to the base portion; and a protuberance extending out of the ring receiving surface away from the base portion.
 2. The ring display stand according to claim 1, further comprising a back.
 3. The ring display stand according to claim 2, wherein the back displays at least one of textual and image information.
 4. The ring display stand according to claim 3, wherein the back displays at least one of textual and image information relating to a school.
 5. The ring display stand according to claim 3, wherein the back displays at least one of textual and image information relating to a wedding.
 6. The ring display stand according to claim 3, wherein the back displays at least one of textual and image information relating to an event.
 7. The ring display stand according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the textual and the image information is displayed in relief.
 8. The ring display stand according to claim 2, wherein the base portion is rotatably attached to the back.
 9. The ring display stand according to claim 1, wherein the ring receiving surface is continuous and smooth.
 10. The ring display stand according to claim 1, wherein the ring receiving surface is rotatably attached to the base portion. 